Aerial transportation system.



PATENTED JAN. 15. 1907.

G. G. SGHROEDER. AERIAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM-1 APPLICATION FILED MAY16, 1904. RENEWED JUNE 25, 1906.

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No. 841,579. PATENTETD'JAN. 15, 1907.

e. G. SOHROEDER. A

AERIAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 16, 1904. RENEWED JUNE 25, 1906.

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PATENTED JAN. 15. 1907.

G. G. SCHROBDER.

AERIAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

APPLIGATION FILE-D MAY 16, 1904. RENEWED JUNE 25, 1906.

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THE NORRIS PETERS 60 WASHINGTON, D. c.

v PATENT-ED JAN. 15, 1907. G. G. 'SGHROEDER.

AERIAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 16, 1904. RENEWED JUNE 25, 1906 B SHEETS-SHEET 4.-

THE-NORRIS PETERS cc. WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 841,579. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907. G. G. SGHROEDER.

AERIAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1904. RENEWED JUNE 25, 1906.

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, UNITE STATES FAINT UFFIOE.

AERIAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

Application filed May 16, 1904. Renewed June 25,1906. Serial No.323,343.

To [0/] who/1L it Uta/y concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. SOHROEDER, a citizen of the United States,residing at IVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented newand useful Improvements in Aerial Transportation Systems, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has relation to aerial transportation systems and itconsists in the novel construction and arrangement of its parts, ashereinafter shown and described.

The object of the invention is to providea system such as indicated andwhich is especially adapted to transport parcels, merchandise,mail-matter, light freight, &c., from one station to another along thesaid system' In addition to carrying mail and express matter the systemmay be used to advantage in rough mining districts for the purpose of.transporting ores, &c., from inaccessible points in the mountains tothe coast or to places having railroad or water facilities and also forcarrying supplies and machinery to the mines. This system is especiallyde sirable for such use, for in its erection and operation it is notnecessary to grade the earth. Consequently great saving is effected, andin case the mineral deposits should run out the system may be taken downand removed to other places without loss, as would be the case if roadswere graded. In such districts the system may be provided with cars orcoaches for carrying persons as well as receptacles for carryingfreight.

In the transportation of mail and express in rural districts and fromone city to another the system is provided with way-stations where thereceptacles carrying the matter may be stopped, unloaded, and reloaded,and forwarded upon its way. In operating the system for this purpose itwill be necessary to connect all of the stations by telegraph or othercommunication in order that the operator at one terminal station whendespatching a motor may notify all operators at way-stations at whichthe motor should stop for the delivery of matter, it being understoodthat should a way-station have matter to be transported the operator maystop any motor at such station for the purpose of placing the matter inthe receptacle.

The stations along the line are provided with devices which remain insuch positions normally as to automatically stop all motors passing thestation; but these devices may be so set as not to interfere with orstop the motors. At the terminal stations devices are provided forautomatically checking the speed of and stopping the motors. Thechecking devices at both the terminal and intermediate stations may beoperated to release the motors and attachments at any desired time.

The system consists, primarily, of towers or poles erected upon theearth at suitable intervals apart. At the top of such towers or polesare strung telegraph or telephone wires, as desired, and upon cross-armsattached to the towers or poles are strung an upper cable adapted tosustain the weight of the motors and contents thereof and serving as atrack for the same. Just below said cable is strung a current-conductingwire, which is supported by said cable,but insulated therefrom. Thetrolley-wheel of the motor passes along this wire in contact therewith.At the stations the current-conducting wire is provided with insulatedsections which as soon as the trolley passes thereon cuts off thecurrent from the motor, and consequently the said motor begins to stopand is carried along by the momentum only that it has gained while thecurrent was passing therethrough. At the stations the cable is carriedup in elevated sections, over which the motor and its attachments mustpass. This further retards the speed of the motor, and when thereceptacle engages the automatic braking device the motor is readilybrought to a state of rest.

At the stations electric connections are provided which connect theadjacent ends of the current-wire and pass around the insulated sectionsabove referred to. Consequently when the motor is again started upon itsjourney it is supplied with the electric current as soon as it passesover the insulated section of the current-wire. The insulated section ofthe current wire at the points of junction extends in alinement with themain portion of the current-wire in order to act as an anchor to keepthe said current-wire taut and also to act as a track or guide for thetrolley-wheel while the motor is at the station or passing through thesame.

WVhere the receptacles carried by themotor are intended for thetransmission of both mail and express matter, the said receptacle isdivided into two or more compartments, each being provided with a door,to the lock of one of which the mail agent will have a key, while theexpress agent will have a key to the compartment containing the express.Thus the mail may be transported in safety, as it can be handled only bythe proper persons provided for this purpose.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portionof the system for aerial transportation. Fig. 2 is atransverse sectionalview of the system and motor. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a station,showing one form of construction for transmitting the current past thestation. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a plate used on the towers orpoles for supporting the cross-arms. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of astation, showing another form of constructionfor transmitting thecurrent past the station. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a pole locatedat a station and showing the arrangement of the construction fortransmitting the current past the same. Fig. 7 is a side elevation ofabraking or checking device used at stations. Fig. 8 is a sec tionalview of one of the members of said braking device. Fig. 9 is an end viewof one of the members of the braking device, and Fig. 10 is a sectionalview of a terminalbuffer.

Throughout the system the poles or towers 1 are erected at suitableintervals apart. At the tops of said poles or towers are located thecross-arms 2 2, which are adapted to carry the telegraph or telephonewires 3. Below the cross-arms 2 are located the crossarms 4. When polesare used, as illustrated in the drawings, the said cross-arms 4 arebraced to the poles by means of the plates 5. The said plates 5 aresimilar in construction and are provided with vertical depressions 6 forthe reception of the pole 5, and the horizontal depressions 7, adaptedto receive the cross-arms 4,- the intermediate portions of the saidplates between the depressions 6 and 7 serving as braces and beingbolted together, as at 8. At the outer ends of the arms 4 4 the cable 9is strung, and below said cable and extending parallel with the same islocated the current-conducting wire 10, the said wire being supportedfrom the cable 9 by means of the supports 11, which are insulated fromthe cable 9 by the insulation 12. The motor 13 is adapted to travel uponthe cable 9. Said motor may be of any desired construction. The motorshown in the drawings consists of the stationary field 14, whichreceives the armature 15, which is adapted to rotate. The spider 16 isattached to the shaft of the armature 15 and has its ends fixed to thering 17, which surrounds the field 14 of the motor and is provided witha ball-bearing 18. The outer periphery of the ring 17 is grooved toreceive the cable 9. The hanger 19 is attached at its upper end to thecasing of the motor-field 14 and extends down past the cable 9 and wire10 and isv attached to the receptacle 20. The said hanger 19 is providedwith a trolley-wheel 21,

which engages the under side of the currentconducting wire 10, theoverlapping springplates 2222 being attached at their lower ends to theshaft of the trolley-wheel 21 and .pass up over the wire 10 in order toprevent the trolley-wheel from jumping from the wire 10. The electricalconnection 23 is attached at its upper end to the field 14 of the motorand is provided with the switch 24, which in turn is connected by thewire 25 with the trolley-wheel 21. (See Fig. 2.)

At intervals along the line the system is provided with stations 26. Atpoints approaching each said station the cable 9 is carried up andpasses through said station and then descends and assumes its generallevel, while the current-conducting wire 10 is carried down and aroundthe said station and ceases to extend parallel with the cable 9 at suchpoints only. The said current-conducting wire at the stations issubstituted by an insulated section 27, which extends through thestation 26 parallel to the cabie 9 and is adapted to guide thetrolley-wheel of the motor and also acts as a guy or anchor for the endsof the current-conducting wire 10. The section 27 is electricallydisconnected from the ends of the current-conducting wire 10 by means ofthe insulation 28.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the section of wire 10 10 whichcarries the current around the station 26 is doubled and is connected atits ends to the supports 11 in the manner as shown.

At each station a checking or stopping device for the motor is provided.It will be observed that the receptacle 20 is cylindrical in shape andpointed at its ends. The said checking or stopping device is adapted toreceive and operate upon the said receptacle 20. The checking orstopping device consists of a series of brakes, all being similar inconstruction, but gradually increasing in degree 'of braking strength.

Each individual brake consists of a number of arms 30, pivotallysupported at the point 31. Said arms are arranged parallel to each otherand almost describe a circle in crosssection, (see Fig. 9,) the space 32being provided at the top in order that the hangers of the motor maypass through the brake. The band-spring 33 nearly surrounds one end. ofthe braking device and is adapted to hold the said ends in toward eachother, and the tongs 34 surround the opposite ends of the arms 30. Thetongs are pivoted to ether at 35. The shaft 36 passes between t e lowerends of the tongs 34, and an eccentric 37 is located on the shaft 36between the lower ends of each set of tongs. The end of the shaft 36 isprovided with the rocker-arm 38, to the end of which is pivoted thepitman 39, which is also attached to the operating-lever 40.

At terminal stations in addition to the checking -or braking-devicesabove described terminal buffers are provided. Said -buffer consists ofthe air-cylinder 41, which is provided in one end with the aperture 42.The piston 43 is located within the cylinder 41 and is normally heldagainst the cylinder- 'head by the coil-spring 44. The piston-rod 45passes through the head of :the cylinder 41 and is provided at its outerend with the socket 46, which is adapted to receive the pointed end ofthe receptacle 20.

The operation vof the invention is as follows: The motor 13 is startedupon its jourmay and when it arrives at a station' 26 passes up theinclined portionof the cable 9, and as the trolley which passes over theinsulation 28 the current is cut oil from the motor; but it continues:to :travel by reason of the momentum that it has gained while subjectedto the current. However, as the motor ascends the inclined portion ofthe cable 9 to enter the station 26 its speed is some what checked. Whenit enters the station 26, the receptacle 20 passes into the checking andbraking devices, which are normally set to engage the sides of thereceptacle 20 and odor frictional contact therewith, it being understoodthat the tension of the first spring 33 is less than that of the othersprings and that the tension of the said springs gradually increases.Thus the inner sldes of the arms 33 bear against the sides of thereceptacle 20, and it is brought to a state of rest. The operator thenswings the lever 40, which causes the shaft 36 to describe a partialrotation, and the eccentrics 37, hearing against the lower ends of thetongs 34,force the said lower ends apart and contract the upper ends ofthe same. This presses the o posite ends of the arms 30 to the ends uponw 'ch the springs 33 are located in, and consequently the ends of thesaid arms under the springs 33 are forced out. Thus the receptacle 20 isreleased, and it may be moved along the cable 9 until it is cleared ofthe checking or braking device, where it may be unloaded and reloaded,after which it is run out of the opposite side of the station 26 anddown the inclined portion of the cable 9, and as soon as the trolleyengages the live position of the wire 10 the motor is electricallysupplied and the device passes on to the next station, where theoperation above described may be repeated.

Should it not be intended to have the motor stop at a station, theoperator may throw the lever 40, so that there will be no frictionalcontact between the arms 30 and a receptacle 20, in which case the motorwill pass on through the station and continue its journey.

At terminal stations the end of the receptacle 20 enters the recess 46,and the piston 45 is moved back and compresses the air in the cylinder41 and forces the same out gradually through the outlet 42, it beingunderstood that before the end of the recep- As indicated in Fig. 1, thesaid receptacle 20 may be divided into several compartments, each ofwhich is provided with .a sep arate door.

Thus mail-matter may be sent in one compartment and express matter in.an-

other compartment, the mail agents .at :the

stations having keys to the mail-compartment and the express agents atthe stations havi-n keys to the express-com artment.

In t e event that the receptac e 20 is made of any considerable length:the supplemental hangers and wheels 47 may be provided and located ator near the ends-of the receptacle in order to help to sustain theweight of @the same and its contents and also to prevent any tendency tovertical rocking.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A system of transportation consisting of an elevated track passingway-stations, and braking devices located at the waystations below saidtrack.

2. An electric system of transportation consisting of an elevated trackpassing waystations and having a trolley-wheel guide located below thesame, and braking devices located at the way-stations below said trackand trolley-wheel guide.

3. An electric system of transportation consisting of an elevated trackpassing waystations and having an insulated trolleywheel guide locatedbelow the same, and braking devices located at the way-stations belowsaid track and trolley-wheel guide.

4. An electric system of transportation consisting of a track passingway-stations, a current-conductor extending parallel with said track,but passing around the stations out of parallel with the track, andbraking devices located at the way-stations.

5. An electric system of transportation consisting of a track passingway-stations and a current-conductor extending parallel with said track,but passing around said stations out of parallel with the track,insulated sections connecting the ends of the currentconductor at thestations and passing through the stations parallel to said track, andbraking devices located at the stations.

6. A system of transportation consisting of a track passing way-stationsand having elevated portions at said stations, and braking deviceslocated below said elevated portions.

7. An electric system of transportation consisting of a track passingway-stations and having elevated portions at said stations, andacurrent-conductor extending parallel with said track, but passing outof parallel IIS with said track at said elevated portions thereof.

8. An electric system of transportation consisting of a track passingway-stations and having elevated portions at said stations, and acurrent-conductor extending parallel with said track, and insulatedsections connecting the ends of said current-conductor at the stationsand passing through the stations parallel to said track.

9. An electric system of transportation consisting of a track passingway-stations, and a current-conductor extending parallel with saidtrack, but passing around said stations out of parallel with the track,insulated sections attached to the ends of said currentconductors andserving as an anchor to main tain the same taut and passing through thestations parallel to the track.

10. In a system such as described, a station, a track passingtherethrough and adapted to support a car, and braking devices locatedin the station and adapted to receive and engage the body of the car andoffer resistance thereto.

11. In a system such as described, a station, a track passingtherethrough and adapted to support a car, a series of braking de viceslocated in the station and adapted to engage the car and ofierresistance thereto,

the resisting power of said braking devices gradually increasing inintensity.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. GEORGE G. SCI-IROEDER. Witnesses:

WM. A. EAs'rERDAY, F. M. MATTIsE.

